HARINGEY's mental health authority defended their decision to close a ward at St Ann's hospital saying it is in patient's best interests.

Orchard House at St Ann’s Hospital were closed by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust after it was found to be "unfit" to provide patient care.

Patients will be relocated to Edgware Community Hospital, in Burnt Oak Broadway, by April 30.

A second ward that caused concern, Mayfield House, will not be closed as improvement work can be carried out without patients having to relocate.

This decision will be monitored and reviewed, Trust bosses said.

Lee Bojtor, Trust chief operating officer, said: "We have taken this action because as a trust we want to give patients the best possible care.

"The situation shows the difficulty of providing modern good quality healthcare on a site where many facilities are in need of redevelopment."

The trust was issued with an improvement notice in March after an inspection by the Government's infection control watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, exposed poor hygiene standards on four wards.